Digital Commons Network^™

Tools To Build Undergraduate Nursing Student Volunteer Confidence In Case Of Disaster, Sadie Apuron, Emily F. Calkins, Natashia Forson, Rhean Kang, Corinne Pickart, Ryan Quan

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Building Undergraduate Nursing Student Confidence to Volunteer in Case of Disaster

This paper provides a brief overview of one project in an ongoing collaboration between the nursing department, the Office of Safety and Security, and Health Services at a private university in the Pacific Northwest. The partnership aims to improve disaster response capacity on campus by preparing nursing students to volunteer in medical triage. It builds on a previous project that created a protocol for volunteers and outlined education recommendations (Sebastian et al., 2025). The goal of this project was to create reusable training resources to increase nursing student knowledge …

Educating To Exhaustion: Intention To Leave Among Us Full-Time Nursing Faculty, Jacqueline Christianson, Kathryn J. Malin, Jessica Leiberg, Lisa M. Grabert, Stephanie E. Moser, Jessica L. Zemlak

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

AIM 

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between work efforts and rewards with intention to leave and burnout among full-time nurse educators.

BACKGROUND 

The nursing faculty shortage is a contributor to the nursing shortage. Poor balance between work efforts and rewards may contribute to intention to leave.

METHOD 

A cross-sectional survey of US nurse faculty examined work efforts, rewards, burnout, and intention to leave. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the relationships among variables.

RESULTS 

Among 588 participants, efforts and rewards both had significant effects on burnout. Burnout and rewards had significant effects on intention …

Digital Pain Assessment: Patient And Family Perspectives, Rosemary Saunders, Kate Crookes, Kaoru Nosaka, Olivia Gallagher, Jeff Hughes, Caroline Bulsara, Max K. Bulsara, Seng Giap Marcus Ang, Beverley Ewens, Sue Haydon, Karla Seaman, Renée Graham, Debra Scaini, Karen Gullick, Michelle Gay, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Renée Graham

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Pain is a common symptom for hospitalised older adults. Pain is not always adequately assessed, which can lead to inadequate pain management and adverse patient outcomes. Thus, new technology-driven pain assessment tools have been developed; however, little is known about patients’ and families’ experiences of nurses using them in acute care. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of older adult inpatients and their families’ regarding nurses’ use of the digital technology-driven pain assessment application PainChek^® Universal. Methods: A survey was undertaken as part of a stakeholder evaluation of a randomised control trial exploring the effectiveness of nurse-led …

A Joint Effort: Stakeholders' Perspectives Of Medication Management Reviews In Australian Residential Aged Care, Rajendra Gyawali, Marea O'Donnell, Rachel Jenkins, Amy D. Nguyen, Lalit Yadav, Rosemary Saunders, Fiona J. Clay, Johanna I. Westbrook, Karla Seaman, Magdalena Z. Raban

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) is a government-funded pharmacist-led service to address medication-related problems, such as polypharmacy, which are prevalent in aged care. Despite known benefits, concerns remain about the service's effective implementation to benefit residents. We aimed to explore stakeholders' perspectives of the service and identify challenges and improvement opportunities. Method: A qualitative study was conducted using individual interviews and focus groups with 21 stakeholders, including general practitioners (GPs), a nurse practitioner, registered nurses, pharmacists and consumers. Audio transcripts of the discussions were thematically analysed using inductive coding. Results: Seven interconnected themes were identified, highlighting complexities in RMMR …

Bridging Ipv And Sud For Pregnant And Postpartum Women: A Case Report Of Interdisciplinary Programming In Mississippi, Catherine Poehling, Masoumeh Karimi, Chinedu Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Xiaoshan Gordy, Saijun Zhang, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsanee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Mary M. Wesley, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents in the U.S. South experience disproportionately high rates of bullying, discrimination, depression, and suicidality. Supportive and inclusive school climates are identified as key protective factors that can mitigate these risks and function as primary prevention against violence. This systematic narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed research and high-quality survey reports published between 2015 and 2024 that assess school climate, mental health, and violence-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth with representation from Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 1,167 records …

Expanding Waste Segregation Initiatives To Reduce Regulated Medical Waste: A Multi-Departmental Quality Improvement Project, Emily M. Su, Anuja L. Sarode, Mohammed Sami, David R. Nehring, Erica L. Laipply, Mustafa Culcuoglu

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Regulated medical waste (RMW) drives up health care costs, largely due to misclassification of general waste, especially in operating rooms (ORs), intensive care units (ICUs), and obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) departments. This study aimed to reduce RMW volume and costs at Akron City Hospital (ACH) through department-specific interventions aligning with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.

Methods

Periodic analyses compared hospital-wide aggregate RMW volume, pick-up frequency, and disposal costs before and after interventions. The ORs initiated interventions in October 2022, expanding to ICUs and OBGYN by February 2024. Strategies included staff education, flyers …

Addressing Health Inequities For People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In The Hospital Through Partnerships In Nurse Training, Suzannah Iadarola, Amanda Laprime, Samantha Hochheimer, Tabby Anvari, Carrie Baker, Jacqueline Goodman

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

People with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) deserve the same access to quality healthcare yet are at increased risk of medical and/or psychiatric conditions as compared to the general population. Patients with IDD have less health satisfaction, shorter life expectancy, less access to preventative care, higher chronic health conditions, overuse of certain medications, and increased mortality. This population and their caregivers report high levels of dissatisfaction with emergency/inpatient care. Nurses also express frustration with lack of training, limited resources, and competing priorities.

We developed the Advancing Supportive Care through Education for Nurses on Disability (ASCEND) Program, to build the capacity of inpatient/Emergency …

Staff Education For Prevention And Management Of Obesity In Adolescents From Underserved Communities, Doris Mtarubukwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP project implemented a targeted staff education intervention designed to bridge the practice gap in obesity management among adolescents in underserved communities. A comprehensive chart review of 45 patients revealed that only 3% of encounters adequately addressed obesity using evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines, establishing the urgent need for healthcare provider education and competency development. Adolescents in underserved communities face complex barriers to health and wellness, with obesity representing a critical public health concern. The literature demonstrated that childhood and adolescent obesity serves as a significant risk factor for multiple chronic conditions in adulthood, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary …

Pressure Injury Prevention In Intensive Care Units, Michael Loya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project addressed the critical practice problem of formation of Stage III/IV pressure injuries in adult patients admitted to the long-term acute care (LTAC) intensive care unit (ICU) department, which has been linked to increased lengths of stay, mortality rates, and treatment costs for the facility. Thus, development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on a nurse-driven protocol to identify patients in the ICU department at high risk of developing a Stage III/IV pressure injury and initiating prevention measures formed the primary purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The practice focused question addressed whether an evidence-based …

Staff Education On Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification And Referral Using The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, Edith Nkeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff Education on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification and Referral Using the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale

Marital Satisfaction And Social Media Use: A Comparative Study Based On Addiction Levels, Fatma Ayhan, Elif Arık, Merve Gülsüm Saçan, Zehra Sevim, Esme Arguç

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

In recent years, the widespread use of social media platforms has raised questions about their impact on marital relationships. This study examined the relationship between marital satisfaction, social media use, and certain sociodemographic characteristics. This descriptive and cross-sectional study comprised 461 individuals residing in Turkey who had been married for at least one year. Data were collected using the Bergen Social Media Addiction and Marital Satisfaction Scales. Statistical analyses included t-tests, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis. Social media addiction was high among 16.5% of the participants. Marital satisfaction was higher among males, those who married at age …

Staff Education On Phq-9 To Improve Depression Screening And Patient Outcomes, Ahmad Ghandour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a prevalent mental health condition that significantly affects patient quality of life and healthcare utilization. Clinical guidelines recommend routine depression screening in adults when appropriate systems for follow-up and treatment are in place. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated instrument used to identify depressive symptoms and assess severity in outpatient settings. Despite national recommendations supporting routine depression screening using the PHQ-9, a significant practice gap remains in the consistent administration, accurate scoring, and proper documentation of the tool in outpatient. Research indicated that variability in screening practices is frequently associated with inadequate staff training and lack …

Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Self-Efficacy Through Inacsl Standards Training, Amy Bortner

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Simulation-based education (SBE) is a widely used instructional strategy in nursing curricula; however, formal training for faculty and staff who implement it may be inconsistent or limited. Current literature supports the need for structured, evidence-based training to ensure effective use of simulation-based education and promote best practices in teaching and learning. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to improve perceptions and self-efficacy regarding the use of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) standards, which guide simulation education. Driven by Kurt Lewin’s change theory and Jeffries Simulation Theory, twelve volunteers completed the Faculty Attitude and …

Quality Improvement Project: Provider Knowledge Improvement For Care Of The Severely Hypertensive Obstetric Patient, Victoria Abramowitz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Gaps in confidence among emergency department (ED) and maternal child health services (MCHS) staff negatively impacts effectiveness and timeliness of response to high acuity obstetric emergencies, such as severe obstetric hypertension. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact on provider self-efficacy with the implementation of evidence-based education and standardized procedures for severe obstetric hypertension management, aimed at evaluating the degree of success of increasing provider confidence. The project was guided by Lewin’s change theory and Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome theoretical framework. With a quasi-experimental design and the PDSA implementation framework, 20 staff from both the ED and …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of National Culturally And Linguistically Appropriate Services (Clas) Standards Education On Behavioral Health Providers’ Self-Efficacy, Zita Anigbou

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Health disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse populations continue to negatively affect access to and quality of behavioral health care. Limited provider education on the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards contributes to communication barriers, reduced therapeutic engagement, and lower provider confidence. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of evidence-based CLAS Standards education on behavioral health providers’ self-efficacy in delivering culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Health Equity Implementation Framework, a quantitative pre-test–post-test quasi-experimental design was used. A convenience sample of three behavioral health nurse practitioners …

Implementation Of A Standardized Suicide Risk Screening Protocol Using The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs) In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Kemisola Ebietomiye

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The outpatient mental health clinics across the United States lack consistent suicide risk assessment methods. This project developed standardized procedures which used Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) assessment together with provider education and electronic health record systems to evaluate how these elements impacted provider self-efficacy and their ability to record screening results. The project used a pre-post design to examine (n=24) psychiatric providers at an urban outpatient clinic through the combined methods of Lewin's Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. The General Self-Efficacy Scale measured provider self-efficacy, and structured EHR audits tracked documentation rates pre- and post-implementation over six weeks. …

Quality Improvement Project: Protecting Young Kidneys: Optimizing Albuminuria Management In Youth With Diabetes, Mili Vakharia

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Diabetic nephropathy is a major microvascular complication and the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among individuals with diabetes. Children and adolescents with type 1 and type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of developing CKD earlier in life due to longer disease duration, poor glycemic control, and delayed CKD diagnosis. Guidelines emphasize timely detection and intervention to slow disease progression. Albuminuria is an early marker of glomerular injury and signals the need to initiate CKD treatment. Despite evidence supporting early detection and treatment, standardized management of albuminuria in pediatric diabetes care remains inconsistent. This Doctor of Nursing Practice …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates Through Provider Education In Primary Care, Leikasha Allen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Pneumococcal disease remains a major cause of illness and mortality among adults aged 65 years and older, leading to severe pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis, particularly in vulnerable populations. Although effective vaccines and clear Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Advisory Committee Immunization Practice (ACIP) guidelines, vaccination in this age group remains inadequate. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to determine the impact of pneumococcal vaccination compliance through evaluating provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines through targeted education. Guided by Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Health Belief Model, a 20-minute evidence‑based educational session …

Implementation Of A Mentoring Toolkit: A Quality Improvement Project, Joshlyn Neu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing faculty mentorship is an essential component of professional development, job satisfaction and faculty retention. However, many schools lack a structured approach to preparing their faculty members to act as mentors. This quality improvement project set out to determine whether the implementation of a formal mentoring toolkit would improve nursing faculty members perceived competency to act as mentors. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Lewin’s Change Theory, and the latest evidence-based research, this project sought to answer the following question: In full-time nursing faculty members teaching in a BSN program at a small, private college (P), how does the …

Improving Diabetes Care: Staff Training On Updated Ada Guidelines, Jeffrey Wilson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The incidence of diabetes is rising, requiring clinical staff to stay current with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care. A lack of knowledge and outdated practices were revealed during the needs assessment at the project site. This quality improvement (QI) project sought to determine whether ADA‑centered educational training could impact staff members' knowledge of diabetes. Orem’s Self‑Care Deficit Nursing Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory served as the theoretical frameworks to promote provider competence and adherence to evidence‑based diabetes treatment. Quasi‑experimental pre–post design was used with a convenience sample of four clinical staff at a rural outpatient clinic. Study …

Staff Education For Hypertension Diagnosis, Management, And Treatment, Philomena Ifeyinwa Chinemelu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension (HTN) is a significant public health concern, and educating nursing staff is crucial to improving patient outcomes and supporting public health initiatives. This staff education project focused on improving the quality of hypertension management by empowering nurses to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care. The practice-focused question is as follows: Will HTN education improve staff knowledge of HTN diagnosis, treatment, and management? I employed a quantitative pre-test/post-test design to measure changes in staff (n = 10) knowledge before and after training. Descriptive statistics measure knowledge gain and the effectiveness of educational strategies. The pre-test percentage of correct answers improved from 79% …

A Nurse-Led Clinical Practice Guideline To Improve Medication Adherence Among Psychiatric Home-Health Patients, Amber Murillo - Alonzo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication nonadherence among psychiatric patients receiving home-health services contributes to symptom relapse, preventable hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life. Inconsistent medication education and adherence monitoring within home-health settings may further exacerbate this problem. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to develop and evaluate a nurse-led clinical practice guideline (CPG) designed to improve medication adherence among psychiatric home-health patients. The practice-focused question asked: What evidence, based on content expert review using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument, supports the quality and usability of a CPG to improve medication adherence in a …

Staff Education To Improve Psychiatric Nurses’ Use Of Evidence-Based Strategies For Supporting Medication Adherence In Outpatient Settings, Lilian Ndifon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychiatric medication nonadherence remains a persistent barrier to effective outpatient mental health care and contributes to relapse, rehospitalization, and disrupted continuity of care. In outpatient psychiatric settings, nurses are often responsible for patient education and follow-up, yet many lack formal training in evidence-based strategies to support medication adherence. This staff education project was implemented at an outpatient psychiatric facility to address this practice gap. The practice-focused question asked whether a structured staff education intervention would improve outpatient psychiatric nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based medication adherence strategies. Twelve outpatient psychiatric nurses participated in a one-hour educational session focused on motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, …

Staff Education To Reduce Compassion Fatigue In Acute Care Staff Nurses, Kamala C. Mcgee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compassion fatigue (CF), burnout, and moral distress are common in high-acuity nursing environments, yet nurses are rarely taught how to recognize or manage these challenges. The guiding question for this staff education project was about whether education focused on CF and mindfulness-based coping strategies would improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in an acute care VA medical center. Posteducation results (n = 20) showed meaningful, statistically significant improvements. Familiarity with CF increased from baseline (M = 2.35; SD = 1.04) to post implementation (M = 3.75; SD = .91), t(19) = −5.085, p < .001. Confidence in recognizing CF in oneself improved from baseline (M = 2.6; SD = .875) to post implementation (M = 3.60; SD = .821), p = .004. Confidence in recognizing CF in colleagues increased from baseline (M = 2.40; SD = .821) to postimplementation (M = 3.15; SD = .671), p = .012. Agreement that seeking help is a sign of weakness decreased from baseline (M = 2.00; SD = .503) to postimplementation (M = 1.40; SD = .951), p = .024. Although perceptions of organizational support did not change, nurses reported greater use of mindfulness, peer support, and boundary setting, supporting nurse wellbeing and psychological safety. Several recommendations emerge from this project. CF education should be integrated into routine staff development, annual competencies, and onboarding for new nurses. By reducing stigma around seeking help and promoting peer awareness, this work supports fostering a workplace culture where all nurses feel safe, supported, and valued, a positive social change.

Quality Improvement Project: Effectiveness Of Staff Education On Fall Prevention, Theresa Oahre Okoyomo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Falls increase injury and mortality rates and decrease patients' quality of life. Hospital falls also incur enormous financial burdens on hospitals. In 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped reimbursing hospitals for fall-related injuries. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was staff confidence in fall prevention and hospital fall rates. The purpose is to improve staff confidence and reduce fall rates by 95 % within six weeks. The 2025 CDC/STEADI Algorithm for Fall Risk Screening, Assessment, and Intervention was the program of choice because it aligns with the hospital's fall-prevention policy. This project design is …

Management Of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome In The Emergency Department, Janet Fuller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project involved development and approval of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in the emergency department (ED) of a large community trauma center in the southeastern United States. AWS is a common, potentially life-threatening condition requiring timely assessment and intervention to prevent. Variability in ED screening and treatment contributes to delayed intervention, increased rapid response activations, and intensive care transfers. The project purpose was to develop and obtain expert approval of an evidence-based CPG using the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol–Revised (CIWA-Ar) tool to support standardized screening, symptom-triggered …

Quality Improvement Project: Reducing Medication Errors To Improve Patient Safety, Paulina Irish

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication administration errors remain a persistent threat to patient safety in emergency department settings, where high acuity, rapid throughput, and workflow interruptions increase vulnerability to preventable adverse events. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to increase medication-safety knowledge scores by at least 10% and reduce medication administration error rates by 20% within eight weeks among registered nurses in a freestanding emergency department in South Texas. The project was grounded in Lewin’s Change Theory as the theoretical framework and implemented using the Plan–Do–Study–Act quality improvement model. A quasi-experimental, single-group pretest–posttest design was used with a …

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Interventions To Improve Patient Engagement In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Gloria Egeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this project, I implemented a staff education initiative at an outpatient psychiatric facility in Michigan to address gaps in clinicians’ and office managers’ knowledge of evidence-based patient engagement strategies. Limited understanding had hindered patient participation in treatment planning, symptom self-management, and shared decision-making, key components of recovery-oriented care. The education initiative was aimed at enhancing staff competencies to strengthen therapeutic alliances, improve treatment adherence, and support positive mental health outcomes. Guided by a practice-focused question, in the project I examined whether an evidence-based staff education program would improve patient engagement among adults receiving outpatient mental health services. A pre-/postintervention …

Staff Education To Prevent Falls Among Older Adults In Primary Care, Chioma Nwosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are a significant health concern for the elderly population and a major cause of injury and functional decline among older adults, yet fall prevention practices are inconsistently applied in primary care. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of staff education on fall risk screening and prevention for adults aged 65 years and older using the CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) framework. This project employs a pre–post quality improvement design in a primary care clinic. Clinical staff received education on STEADI-based fall risk assessment, documentation, and evidence-based interventions. Data were collected through chart …

A Nurse-Led Staff Education Program To Prevent And Detect Elder Abuse By Caregivers In The Home, Nicola Violet Brown-Walters

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a nurse-led, evidence-based staff education initiative designed to improve the prevention and detection of elder abuse in the home by caregivers within an outpatient primary care setting. Elder abuse places older adults at risk for physical harm, neglect, medication mismanagement, and violations of autonomy and patient rights. Elder abuse remains a pervasive and underrecognized problem in nursing practice, often resulting from limited staff education, inconsistent screening practices, and uncertainty regarding mandatory reporting requirements. The practice-focused question examined whether implementing a nurse-led targeted education program guided by the ADDIE instructional design model and …